Dr. Doyinsola Abiola, trailblazing Nigerian journalist and the first female Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of the now-defunct National Concord newspapers, has passed away at the age of 82. Dr. Abiola, widow of the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola, died at exactly 9:15p.m. on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, after a brief illness, family sources confirmed.
A pioneering force in the Nigerian media, Dr. Abiola began her journalism journey in 1969 with the Daily Sketch, where her impactful column “Tiro” addressed pressing societal and gender issues. She furthered her education in the United States, obtaining a Master’s in Journalism, and later returned to join Daily Times, where she rose to the position of Group Features Editor. By 1979, armed with a PhD in Communications and Political Science from New York, she was deployed to the editorial board of Daily Times, working alongside some of Nigeria’s journalistic luminaries.
Her remarkable career reached its zenith at National Concord, where she became the pioneering daily editor and, in 1986, broke new ground as the first Nigerian woman to be appointed Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of a national newspaper group. She held this historic role for three decades, helping shape Nigerian journalism and setting standards for excellence and integrity in media practice.
Do you want to advertise with us?
Do you need publicity for a product, service, or event?
Contact us on WhatsApp +2348033617468, +234 816 612 1513, +234 703 010 7174
or Email: validviewnetwork@gmail.com
CLICK TO JOIN OUR WHATSAPP GROUP
Beyond her editorial duties, Dr. Abiola was deeply involved in advancing the profession. She served as Chairperson of the Awards Nominating panel for the first Nigerian Media Merit Award and played advisory roles at Ogun State University and several professional bodies. Her lifelong devotion to journalism and knowledge advancement earned her the Diamond Award for Media Excellence (DAME) Lifetime Achievement Award, among other recognitions.
A champion for women and a mentor to countless journalists, Dr. Doyin Abiola leaves an indelible legacy etched into the fabric of Nigeria’s media landscape. She is survived by children, family, protégés, and admirers whose lives she touched in her exemplary journey.
